Facilitating Active Learning Process in the Classroom

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Importance of Using Signpost Words | Discourse Markers in Writing

#newspapersinlearning #discoursemarkers

30th October 2023

This blogpost highlights the importance of using sentence connectors [signpost words] in an essay, academic or otherwise, to help increase variety in writing.

They are otherwise called signpost words, since it helps in guiding the reader through the author’s writing in an effortless, coherent and logical manner.

Moreover, they help the reader in keeping track of the author’s argument, ‘link’ the relationship between their ideas, and then ‘connect’ what exactly the author is arriving at.

That’s hence they are also called ‘linking words’ or ‘sentence connectors’.  

In short, they are the ‘glue’ that help in sticking together a piece of writing.

An essay would seem less coherent, without discourse markers, since the connections between the different sentences and paragraphs would not be logical.

This article in today’s Times of India, Chennai Edition, by Professor Edamana Prasad, IIT Madras, foregrounds a problem, and the author drives home his opinion, using an impressive array of discourse markers, like ‘however’, ‘further’, etc.

The problem that the author foregrounds is –

The sharp reduction in the attention span and retention span of learners, especially after the pandemic.

Then the author proceeds to address the issue/problem by suggesting alternative models for engaging the learner in the classroom.

In the traditional classroom, the teacher acts as a content provider, and the classroom is also designed that way. There will be a podium, a table and a chair.

However, in modern times, the teacher’s role is to focus more on assisting individuals on how to learn and carry out the assessment, than providing content.

This is very difficult to achieve in the current classroom structure, and hence the need to modify the present classroom structure, to make it more learner-friendly, says the author.

To sum up this blogpost in a nutshell –

The power of your post lies in your signposts! 😊